RAMSTEIN-MIESENBACH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 19: A Skydio quadcopter drone of the U.S. military hovers over the venue of the 15th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base on September 19, 2023 in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany. The group is an alliance of approximately 50 countries that is supplying Ukraine with military hardware to help it in its ongoing war with Russia. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The Pentagon has denied reports from Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-New Jersey) that the mysterious drones flying over New Jersey originated from an Iranian “mothership.” Van Drew told Fox News’ Harris Faulkner that his confidential sources are sure that the drones come from Iran.
He also said that the U.S. government does not have similar technology. “From very high sources, very qualified sources, very responsible sources, I’m going to tell you the real deal,” Van Drew said. “Iran launched a mothership probably a month ago that contains these drones.”
“That mothership – I’m gonna tell you the deal – it’s off the east coast of the United States of America,” the New Jersey congressman declared. “They’ve launched drones. Everything that we can see or hear. And again, these are from high sources. I don’t say this lightly.”
Van Drew said the situation “is a clear and present danger to the United States and our President-elect. It’s serious business.”
The Pentagon was quick to reject Van Drew’s claims. “There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there’s no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States,” a Pentagon spokesperson told reporters.
The alleged drones were described as operating near military installations and critical infrastructure, such as Picatinny Arsenal and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
The FBI and local police in New Jersey are investigating the drone sightings, which authorities say have been reported in several areas along the Raritan River since Nov. 18.
“The FBI is aware of reported sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – commonly referred to as drones – observed flying in multiple locations over the past several weeks,” the FBI said in a statement. “The FBI remains engaged with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to share information and protect the public.”
The FBI noted that they are interested in “UAVs that pose a danger to any aircraft or are observed operating in restricted airspace or near critical infrastructure and other sensitive sites.”
On Sunday night, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn residents reported seeing up to 12 drones by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
They were also sighted near President-elect Donald Trump‘s New Jersey Bedminster golf club.
“We understand the concern, and we are doing all we can to figure out what’s going on,” a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Newark Field Office, which is leading the investigation, told PIX11 News. “We truly don’t have much information to provide at the moment.”
The situation also inspired a response from New Jersey’s governor. “We are actively monitoring the situation and in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement partners on this matter,” Gov. Phil Murphy (D-New Jersey) wrote on X. “There is no known threat to the public at this time.”
New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim posted a video to social media saying that his investigation found that drone sightings were airplanes.
Let us know what you think of the story in the comments below – join the conversation!
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) lashed out at Sky News' U.S. correspondent Martha Kelner after she questioned her about the…
Former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber, who led high-profile national security prosecutions, was found dead at…
Anna Prokofieva, a Russian war correspondent and vocal supporter of President Vladimir Putin, was killed on…
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are set to tie the knot this summer in what’s shaping up to…
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Luis Ruelas, 49, is again making headlines, this time for securing…
Kim Kardashian will take the stand in the upcoming trial tied to the 2016 armed robbery…
